Washing-machine



(No Model.)

J. P. WRIGHT.

WASHING MACHINE. No. 326,926. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

N PETERS Plum H flhognpher. Walhmghm, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT Grinch.

JOHN P. XVRIGHT, OF DES MOINES, IOWVA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,926, dated September 22, 1885.

Application filed April 10, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN P. WRIGHT, of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented an Improved \Vashing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of machines in which a convex rubber is suspended in a tub to press and rub clothing upon a concave wash-board in the bottom of the tub and my improvement consists in self adjusting journalbearings hinged to the tub, as hereinafter set forth, in such a manner that the rub ber can be readily lifted from the clothing on the concave wash-board and hung over the end of the tub to facilitate the handling and washing of clothing.

Figure 1 of my accompanying drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of my machine. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the concave wash-board. Fig. 3 is a side view of one of my self-adjusting journal-bearings. Jointly considered these figures clearly illustrate the construction and operation of my complete machine.

A represents the closed side of a portable wash-tub of common form, that is supported upon legs fixed thereto, and that may vary in size as desired.

B represents a soap-box and support for the convex rubber, formed 011 the crosspiece at one end of the tub.

G is an extension at the opposite end and top of the tub adapted to receive and support a clothes-wringer.

D is the concave bottom of the tub, preferably made of sheet metal, and fixed to the bottom edges of the sides A by means of nails, or in any suitable way.

F F are removable sections of the washboard that are adapted to be placed upon the concave bottom of the tub, as clearly illus trated in Fig. 1. These sections are composed of curved frames, corresponding in size and shape with the concave bottom D and series of rollers, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. \Vhen they are placed in the tub, their ends abut in the center of the tub and jointly cover the entire concave bottom.

G are turn-buttons pivoted to the tub in such a manner that they will overlap and clasp the ends of the wash-board and retain it firmly in place when in use.

H H are the wooden sides of my convex rubber J represents a frame to which they are fixed.

K is an axle that extends through the frame J and sides H, and that has journals on its ends adapted to enter bearings formed in or fixed to the sides of the tub.

L L are cross-pieces in the frame J, that serve as handles for operating the rubber.

1 2 3 4 are wooden slats fixed to the convex edges of the sides H.

5 6 7 represent series of wooden pins, fixed in the slats to project outward at right angles for the purposes of engaging the clothing upon the concave wash-board and moving the fabric that is to be washed backward and forward over the rollers underneath to facilitate the rubbing and cleansing operation.

N N are slots formed in the sides H for the purpose of allowing the top edge of the wall of the soap-box to enter, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, to support the rubber when lifted out of its bearings.

P P are clasps pivoted to the end slats of the rubber in such a manner that they can be readily adjusted to engage and retain articles of clothing spread over the convex surface of the rubber and to be carried with the rubber as it is vibrated over the rollers in the convex wash-board.

R R represent metal j ournal-boxes fixed in the sides of the tub, into which boxes the journals of the convex rubber will readily enter and slide vertically.

S S arejourna-ls in the form ofblocks, hinged on top of the sides of the tub. They have recesses T, and vertical bores intersecting the recesses. In the recesses are placed followers V, in such a manner that their top ends will extend upward through the bores intersecting the recesses, and their lower ends will extend downward to project into the boxes R, and to follow and press upon the journals.

X are springs placed upon the followers in such a manner that they will, in their normal condition, press the followers downward.

Z are hooks flexibly connected with the sides of the tub in such manner that they will engage pins fixed to the blocks S, as required,

to retain the followers V engaged with the journals.

From the description of the construction and function of each element the practical op- 5 eration of my complete machine isobvious.

I am aware that soap boxes have been formed on the ends of tubs, and that the journals of convex rockers or rubbers have been placed in slots or open-ended bearings, so that they could be lifted out at pleasure; but my manner of notching the sides of the convex rubbers to allow one 'edge of the soap-box to enter the notches while the other edge of the same box engages the same notched sides to 15 aid in supporting and retaining the rubber in a convenient position upon the tub is novel, and greatly advantageous.

I claim as my invention-- The journa1-box R, the hinged block S T, the follower V, the spring X, and hooks Z, in 20 combination with a wash-tub and a rubber having journals on its ends adapted to slide in and out of the journatboxes, substantially as shown and described for the purposes specified.

JOHN P. WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

THOMAS G. ORWIG, J. M. Sr. J OHN. 

